Pennsylvania Derby Weekend

 September 24

This weekend I found myself alone as my wife Kim had flown to Pennsylvania to visit her family.  And so I had a full day of racing while following college football.  The action started with a first post five minutes after noon in the Parx opener, and concluded when the horses left the gate at Churchill Downs at 10:45 pm!  In between there were a total of thirty-five races where I had an investment.  Here's how the action unfolded!

In the opener at Parx with a 12:05 post time was a 2yo maiden claiming event going seven furlongs.  All the "big name" riders were in town for the multiple stakes races, but I found it very interesting that nearly all of them had a mount in this maiden claiming event.  Several of the ones with experience would be no surprise, but for me one of my favorite angles is the bullet workout.  And Tuskegee Airmen was a first time starter for local trainer John Servis who had many near-bullet works for his debut and had topped off his preparations with a best of 46 bullet move.  Saved ground in fourth on the rail to the top of the lane when jockey Luis Saez tipped him into the clear and he drew off to score at a generous $7.80.  Wish I'd gone in for more than the minimum.  Missed on the next four, then scored at Belmont in a non-winners of three lifetime with the obvious choice.  Kinetic Sky was the only runner in the race facing claimers and restricted company for the first time, and he ran to those angles.

Over the next hour and a half I missed on seven in a row, two runner-up and three third place finishes in the mix.  The next race on the sheet was my BET of the Day and it was the STORY of the Day!  And that becomes even more especially true with the way the rest of the day turned out.  So, having now compiled a 2-for-13 record through the first three hours of racing AND run 2nd and 3rd twice in the last four my pick in the $200K Parx Dirt Mile was Todd Pletcher's defending champion Mind Control.  On paper he was a standout as a multiple Gr 3 winner, had run faster than the competition and looked ready to roll.  Sent off at 3/5 odds he tracked the 12/1 pace setter in hand through the far turn.  Swung up to go by but could not get by.  Appeared to stick a nose briefly in front before the longshot came back, then finished a half a head back in second.  It APPEARED to me that through the lane the winner had drifted out from about the three path to the six or seven path.  In and of itself that probably would not be cause for questioning his win.  But at one point he came awfully close to bumping Mind Control and for just an instant he seemed to go off stride.  I've seen worse not even get a review and I've seen less result in take-downs.  Then the announcement there was both an inquiry and objection.  And then the DQ.  So I snap out of my slump via DQ, on the BEST BET, and all on an "iffy" call.  But I'll take it!  Ten minutes later I scored at Belmont in a second level allowance with Let Her Inspire U.  This filly had just missed in a stakes last time out to an undefeated filly.  Oh.  Easily best at 3/5.

Missed on two stakes before it was time for the Weather Vane at Pimlico - a restricted 3yo sprint going six panels.  The question surround my top choice, Smash Ticket was would the filly run back to her most recent numbers as she stepped up in class.  She'd won three of her last four and IF able to compete at the stakes level, she'd win.  Right to the front, repelled a challenge into the stretch and drew off in a "smashing" performance as track announcer Dave Rodman called it (clever guy!).

Missed off the board in the next two and then had back to back scores AND with PRIME TIME plays!  The eighth at Belmont was an entry level allowance - ALWAYS difficult to predict.  But it seemed oh so clear that the winner SHOULD be Shug McGaughey's Celestial City.  In the colt's last seven starts he'd been in stakes, the most recent two in graded stakes.  Last time out in Saratoga's Gr 2 Saranac he'd been second to a multiple stakes winning, loose on the lead Pletcher colt.  Turning for home he made his bid three wide.  Grinding away, this wasn't going to be an emphatic score!  At the 16th pole there were five across the track....OH MY....surging .... and in the shadow of the wire he poked his head in front.  WHEW!  But the reward was great as he paid a whopping $6.90 and so I cashed for almost $70 for my handicapping success!

Next up was the tenth at Pimlico, the Laurel Dash.  Wait...what?  The LAUREL Dash?  Yes.  Go figure.  This five furlong turf sprint I thought Carotari looked really tough IF you did some filtering with his past performances.  Check out the above.  Toss the four graded stakes and toss the one at Monmouth where he ran over a course favoring closers.  In the other six races showing he'd made the lead in four of them - and WON THEM ALL.  So to me....if he made the lead and got a fair race course, he was gone.  Only one of his seven rivals had ever shown front running speed, and that was an outside drawn, first time turf runner who was 15/1 in the program.  Right to the front and cleared the field.  Looked in hand through the turn, and then the challengers came, he seemed good into the lane, but at the furlong pole he got a challenge....nearly head to head and the outside challenger looked to have the momentum, but you could almost see it in the horse's eyes as he saw the rival....looked to be saying, "Uh uh pal....not going by me!"  PHOTO FINISH, but I was nearly positive he'd won.  He did and I cashed for almost another fifty beans!

Third and fourth in the next two before it was time for Churchill to begin their "Downs After Dark" program which featured four stakes events.  The opener at Churchill was a maiden claiming sprint going six and a half furlongs.  The only negative about the program favorite, Candy Island, was that she was PLUNGING from MSW to MC $10K for a first time tag.  But, lightly raced (only three starts) and the only filly in the field to have hit the par figure....on the drop, looked best.  Even money when right to the front and long gone.  While the Louisville program was just starting it was time for the New York finale.  Capital Gal was the choice in the maiden claiming turf route.  Very similar to the angles for the Louisville winner....the most lightly raced runner in the field, and all five starts had come in MSW company.  Her lone turf try came in her last when she had all kinds of trouble and still passed half the field.  Saved ground along the hedge while fourth through the turn.  The rider opted to stay inside and a narrow opening appeared....SQUEEZED through, got clear and edged away late!  Two in a row!

Now they were loading in the gate for the national feature, the Grade 1, $1 Million Pennsylvania Derby.  As I looked through the field, it appeared to be an ultra talented line-up.  But I was immediately drawn to Taiba.  He'd broken his maiden and come right back to win the Gr 1 Santa Anita Derby for trainer Bob Baffert.  Then all the suspensions for the "white-haired wonder" and he didn't run well in the Derby.  Off for several months he was a just-miss 2nd in the Gr 1 $1 Million Haskell.  Today, Baffert was back in charge and had the colt working bullets.  Money Man Mike Smith had flown in to ride.  How could we go wrong?  made him "prime time."  Burst out of the gate on top but settled on the rail, tracking in fourth through the far turn.  Swung into the clear turning for home and in a flash he'd caught, and passed and opened up on the leaders.  It was a runaway.  WHOOOO HOOOO!  Cashed for nearly $50 AGAIN!

A little less than a half hour later they were in the gate for the finale at Parx, the Alphabet Soup Handicap going a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.  Buy Land And Sea had four turf wins and his rivals had a combined seven.  None had his kind of speed figures, and his LAST FOUR starts would beat 34 of the combined 36 turf numbers on the page.  Right to the front, easily in charge.  Into the turn he began to widen and through the stretch was clear by a pole under a hand ride.  WOW.  Cashed for the eleventh time on the day!

Missed on three Churchill picks - the most notable the Seneca Stakes where Falconet went right to the front at 3/1 and was clear into the lane.  Caught in the shadow of the wire :(  It was now almost 9:30 pm and I had three bets left.  The eighth and the ninth at Churchill were 3yo stakes where I had PRIME TIME bets, my last two of the long day.  In the Harrod's Creek Gunite looked really tough.  He'd been beaten by tonight's rival Conagher last time out when that one got loose on the lead.  I anticipated jockey Tyler Gaffalione sitting right off of him to the turn.  Exactly what happened.  Asked for more turning for home and he was long gone.  Cash for over $30!

The ninth was one of the most anticipated races of the day for me.  In her two-year-old debut Echo Zulu had WOW'd the crowd at Saratoga with a runaway win.  She came back in the Grade 1 Spinaway and was every bit as impressive.  Sent off as the favorite in the Grade 1 Frizzette at Belmont going a one turn mile she was dazzling again.  On to the BC Gr 1 BC Juvenile Fillies to try two turns and was simply sensational running away.  Opened her 3yo campaign in the Gr 2 Fair Ground Oaks and was life and death to hold on.  But, off a long layoff, pointing for the Ky Oaks, I was ok with that.  Ran a good 3rd trying nine furlongs in the Oaks.  Was the favorite in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont on Belmont Stakes day going a one-turn mile but scratched at the gate.  So now she was in listed company and on the rail.  If she was her old self she'd be long gone with these.  Right to the front....got some pressure into the turn....now we'll know....opened up and ran away.  WHOOOO HOOOO!  Thirteenth win as I collected another $30.

For the day I was 13-of-35 for 37% with a flat bet profit.  It was a L-O-N-G day, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute!

Pennsylvania Derby Day/ Downs After Dark Highlights

Social Media This Week.....

All last week on the CBS-4 Evening News my gal-pal anchor Lauren Pastrana had been off.  So when she returned this Monday I gave her a shout-out to welcome her back.

A few months ago on CBS-4 Weekend anchor Karli Barnett's Saturday evening Facebook chat the conversation had centered around recent films, and in particular "Where The Crawdads Sing."  We watched the movie this Wednesday and afterwards I messaged Karli about that, and she replied back - you'll note the message time stamps, yes.....she replied back while she was on the air :)

At gal-pal Kimmy's wedding, her partner in crime Christy was obviously there.  Those two have been attached at their attractive hips ever since I first met them as sophomores in my World History class.  Christy posted a photo and I remarked, which she recognized and "liked."

Speaking of newlywed Kimmy, while out on my walk this week one morning she and I chatted for about half an hour....

Friday evening when I turned on the local news Lauren Pastrana's eyes just seemed to jump off the screen - so attractive.  So I reached out to her....WHILE SHE WAS ON THE AIR....and remarked how good they looked, and asked if she was using a new make-up or had done something differently this evening.  She replied right back.....WHILE ON THE AIR.....and remarked that she thought her eyes always seemed to "pop" when she had green on; to which I replied, as I've said to her before, that I personally think green is her best color.  And she "liked" that as well.

Later that same night, all the Twitter followers of the Florida Panthers were alerted that we had a new sideline reporter.  We "lost" our girl Katie Gaus to the Colorado Avalanche but we got a "new Katie" when local high school graduate Katie Engelson tweeted out a short video announcing she was joining the 'Cats as their new sideline reporter.  I began following her - as I do all the Panthers reporters - and welcomed here - and got a quick reply.

Saturday evening as the first race approached for "Downs After Dark" at Churchill Downs I turned the TV to the "America's Day at the Races" and found my girl, hottie-handicapper Acacia Courtney on the desk from Aqueduct.  I messaged her that I was staying up with her as they covered the late races and got a "like" back.

Finally, later in the evening I heard back from one of my all-time favorite former students Tatiana.  I'd reached out to say hi to here earlier in the evening and she replied back to me.  Hoping we can hook up sometime in the near future to catch up.

Sunday was "National Daughter's Day" and so I shouted out on Facebook about my own adorable daughter.  But I also sent a private message to our "adopted" daughter Jillian.  She sweetly replied :)

Tennessee Getaway Weekend

 September 13 - 18

We spent the weekend in the Knoxville area with our oldest and his family.  The weekend racing highlight was it was Woodbine Million Day in Toronto and there were multiple stakes at Churchill which had opened for their two week September run during the week.  The highlight of the early part of the week came on Tuesday when one of MY horses, Carrothers was entered to run in a second level allowance at Presque Isle Downs.  The pre-race video from the trainer to us owners indicated they thought he'd be on or close to the lead, which was curious to me because in the past he's always near midpack or farther back.  He sat near the back, about five off the lead to the turn.  Gradually moved up, then rallied to edge clear late!  WHOOOO HOOOO!  Cashed my ticket and later collected my share of the purse into my account :)

We flew to Knoxville on Thursday and spent a wonderful four days with the grandsons and their parents.  Saturday's racing was excellent!  I was able to watch the first half of the racing before we left for the University of Cumberlands football game (where our oldest is a coach) and watched most the rest on the way to the game and during the early stages of the game.  Here's how the racing played out......

The first winner of the day came on the Woodbine undercard in a race that typically I avoid.  I often say that entry level allowance races are about the most difficult to predict because the runners are so varied in their backgrounds and records.  But in this one, going a mile and a sixteenth on the inner turf, had a horse with a favorite angle of mine.  Rocket Joe Cooper had been claimed out of a Gulfstream race by Woodbine-based trainer Martin Drexler - OBVIOUSLY with the intention of running him here over the summer.  Was a close third in his Woodbine debut, but the 9yo was claimed away.  In his very next start, Drexler claimed him right back (and for the same owners!).  I like to see that.  Sat close to the pace to the top of the lane, edged to the front and held off the closers to score at a nice $8.20 price.

The first win under the Twin Spires in Louisville came in the fifth in a 2yo MSW race.  Counting the also eligibles there were SIXTEEN runners signed on and of those, FIFTEEN were first time starters.  Oh my.  You know you're probably guessing, but the fact that Brad Cox's Loggins was made the 6/5 morning line favorite was telling.  Multiple bullet works for the $450K son of champion Ghostzapper made him a likely choice.  The crowd was all over him as well and he ran off impressively through the lane as the 4/5 choice.

The seventh at Churchill was the first of the added money events, the Open Mind Stakes going six furlongs.  A field of five was originally signed on and it featured two old rivals - Bell's The One and Sconsin.  Both had beaten the other and both were multiple stakes winners.  But, even with her come from behind style, Bell's The One was clearly the one to beat.  I wavered when the wagering opened because two scratches had reduced the field to just three, one of which was THE lone speed.  Still, the crowd was on board I stuck with my choice.  Rallied on the turn just as Sconsin took the lead.  With a sixteenth to go jockey Corey Lanerie had her blowing by to win going away.  WHOOOO HOOOO!

Before the racing day began, after I'd handicapped and posted selections for Woodbine and Churchill Downs I decided to look at the morning line odds for the races in New York.  There were two marathon, 3yo graded events which caught my eye because I'd bet and won with both the favorites and there was a 2/5 morning choice.  I added them to my selection sheet.  In the 7th, the Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks going eleven furlongs on the turf, Chad Brown's Mukullick had proven herself a top grass filly and I thought there was enough speed to set up her finishing style.  She moved mid-way on the turn, a bit too early if you asked me, and got on even terms with the leader.  They dueled through the lane until in the final 100 yards she edged clear for my first win in New York.

Euro-based trainer Charlie Appleby brought multiple Shadwell Stables owned runners to North America last year and cleaned up on multiple Gr 1 races.  And today, in the first of the juvenile stakes, the Grade 1 Summer, he had Mysterious Night.  This colt had been HIGHLY regarded from the beginning, being sent off at even money in his debut.  JUST missed, then came right back to win as the prohibitive 2/5 favorite.  Followed that with back-to-back show finishes in Group 3 races before winning the most recent Group 3 effort.  Never been two turns but on paper he looked easily best.  Made a gigantic move coming out of the turn and opened by more than a pole to win in an "OH MY" impressive effort that will probably make him the favorite in the Gr 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

The tenth at Churchill Downs was the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Stakes going six furlongs.  And as I often say, you have to use ALL the tools available in making your selections.  I thought the race was pretty much a toss-up, but then I noted that the three public handicappers ALL made Miles Ahead their top choice, with DRF analyst Marty McGee making him his BEST Bet of the Day.  What was interesting was that he was 6/1 in the program!  At the top of the lane he was rallying.  The leader was wandering around and so Miles Ahead shifted outside of him, was squeezed while two others rallied and three of them hit the line virtually together.  My first inclination was I'd maybe won, then the slow motion replay I was wondering.....then the camera was focused on Miles Ahead and he was declared the winner in a TIGHT photo!  Paid $7.46 as much of the crowd jumped on board - note the penny breakage now in Kentucky!

The national highlight race and my BET OF THE DAY was next, the Grade 1, $1 Million Woodbine Mile.  Last fall in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf I liked Shadwell Stables Modern Games - trained, like so many other Euro invaders that won Gr 1 stakes last year, by Charlie Appleby.  As the final horses were going into the gate ANOTHER horse reared up.  They backed the horses out of the gate and then it was announced that the horse had scratched and also that Modern Games had scratched.  As I heard this I saw him standing in the gate and wondered, what the???  There was a long delay and a lot of discussion before it was announced he WOULD run but for purse money only.  Later it was announced that "someone" had mistakenly scratched him from the betting pool, which was WORLD WIDE and to get all that money back in before the race was too difficult.  He won, and I did NOT get to cash.  GRRRRR.  In his 3yo debut he'd beaten fourteen rivals in a Group 1 in France.  Then he went a mile and 5/16th and finished fourth as the favorite - probably too far.  Next, was close without winning going seven furlongs - probably not far enough.  But the KEY race was his last going this mile distance.  He'd finished 2nd beaten a length and a half, but the winner, Baaeed is the best turf horse on the planet and is unbeaten.  So a close second would easily win here.  Sat fifth saving ground to the top of the lane, got into the clear when heads were turned for home and his acceleration set him in full flight for the wire, quickly blowing by everyone and drawing off by an ultra-impressive half dozen lengths.  WOW he's good.  The likely favorite in the Breeders' Cup Mile!

The 3yo colt feature in New York was the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby.  Classic Causeway had sprung the upset two back at Belmont going wire to wire, but at Saratoga Nation's Pride had restored form to the 3yo turf division by winning the Saratoga Derby.  I thought he looked EASILY best here today.  He sat fifth into the stretch, got into the clear and accelerated immediately by everyone and drew off by a pole.  I thought the $3 plus payoff was exceptionally generous as I cashed my final ticket of the day.

Handicapping Results

Woodbine Mile Racing Highlights

Social Media

Secret Celebrity Renovation is a show that we watch, and the designer on the team is Sabrina Soto who I follow.  After a recent show she posted on Twitter, which I've not seen her before.  So I responded and she "liked" it :)

Allison is wife to one of my best buddies from the Oasis High football experience.  Kenny and I immediately were social media friends but only has Allison become a "friend" of mine.  She has now become a regular "follower" and commenter on my posts :)))

On a recent post Melissa made the comment that she missed us and I remarked we should all travel together, to which she agreed.  This is in the works....we'll see how that plays out!

My gal pal Kimmy and I exchanged several messages recently.  And of most significance, she told me she was getting married.....IN SCOTLAND!  I told her I would have come if asked and she told me she wished I would have "made the cut" but the guest list was short and no one backed out.  I WOULD have gone, for sure.

So, during our trip to Alaska gal-pal/social media friend, CBS-4 Weekend Anchor Karli Barnett had followed our trip and had messaged with me and noted our trip on her Facebook chats.  BUT when I sent her some pics at the end of the trip, for two weeks.....not a peep.  Thought maybe we were "breaking up" LOL but then when I wished her happy birthday she apologized for not seeing them earlier and responding.  All's well in our "relationship" now :)  

I was looking for interesting trips and found that for "ONLY" $109,000 you could join 75 Disney fans and spend 24 days on a private jet going to every Disney park in the world.  Of course I immediately thought of my "Disney Girl" Amanda and asked her if she'd go with me.  :)

Kimmy's wedding pics....how ironic she got married exactly four years after we'd gotten together at Gulfstream for dinner.

Karli responded to all the birthday wishes and several followers commented on this pic.  For what it's worth, she does a great job of responding to everyone, so it's not that I was "so special" to get a response.  But I DID scroll through all her replies and one and ONLY ONE got a "LOVED" heart as part of the response.....yes, mine :)

Karli's reply on the Saturday chat when I was at Jeff's football game

Saturday Night College Football

Fall Season Begins

 September 10 Canterbury Park: 

Minnesota Festival of Champions Night

And so we began the Fall Championship season, and typically I play only on Saturdays and not every weekend.  My original plan was NOT to play this weekend, but then I saw that Canterbury Park in Minnesota was running their "Festival of Champions" night with six stakes.  So I thought I'd play there while I watched college football.  But then I saw the first post was not until early evening AND that Pimlico was opening with three stakes.  So I planned to play just those two.  And THEN I got an email informing me that one of MY horses, Going To Vegas was running Saturday evening at Del Mar in the Grade 2 Mabee Stakes, so I handicapped Del Mar as well.  In the end I had eighteen plays from early afternoon until almost 10 pm.  Here's how the day played out.....

The first bet of the day came at Pimlico where I thought any of the top three program choices COULD win this 2yo allowance sprint.  But what separated Super Chow from the other two for me was that he'd won his debut impressively - like the other two - but had then run third in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special after dueling through hot splits.  The other two were an impressive last out maiden winner and a horse who'd won his maiden strongly, then ran 2nd in a restricted Colonial Stakes.  Super Chow dueled all the way to the lane, was headed, but came back and then drew off.

Made a bold move in the All Along Stakes with the even money favorite Plum Ali, but the front runner had gone :26 and :52 early and was too far gone to catch.  Ran second at Del Mar then ran second with Jaxon Traveler in the Lite The Fuse before running 4th at Del Mar in an allowance.  Got my second win with my Pimlico Best in the Grade 2 Baltimore-Washington Invitational Turf Cup.  Brad Cox's Set Piece COULD be viewed as in declining form, but his last had been a solid fourth IN A GRADE 1.  I've had him before and I know that he rallies from the back.  Through the far turn, through moderate splits he was well in hand to the top of the lane.  Asked while going six wide into the lane.  The acceleration was immediate and he blew by as much the best.

And interestingly.....before I started the day I checked to see if Twin Spires was offering any "Bet Back" races, and they were, but only at Canterbury.  Then it occurred to me that Pimlico is a 1st Bet/Xpressbet track so I went into that account and saw they were offering a $10 refund if you ran 2nd or 3rd.  It's just me, I get it....but I don't like to play the races on two separate platforms.  But then I told myself that was silly, so I deposited money back into my Xpressbet account and played the Pimlico bets there.  Went 2-for-4 and BOTH of the losses ran 2nd so I got my money back.  I'm so clever some times!

Ran second at odds on in the next two bets, the first the Northern Lights Debutante for 2yo fillies at Canterbury when Thnders Rocknroll was 2/5 and led into the lane before being run down.  Then at Del Mar I had three Bob Baffert 2yo to choose from and I picked the wrong one, second at even money.  At this point it was 7 pm and I had played eight races, only won two, ran second in FIVE and fourth in the other.  At least I'd had college football to keep me occupied and happy.  But then I went on a tear.  Over the next three hours I had ten races....WON SEVEN and ran 2nd in two and third in the other :)  Kicked off the sequence with a win in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf with Commanche Country.  The first thing I liked about this filly was I'd had bet her and won when she made her North American debut here at Del Mar a month ago.  The second thing that I liked about her was that she was a Euro import, with experience on THIS course around two turns.  The other Euros I liked had run all their races on the straight away.  Commance came running into the lane and mowed them all down at a generous 2/1 and change allowing me to cash for over $15 on a minimum bet.  Came right back in a maiden race when Elle's Lil Diva ran off by nearly a dozen lengths.

Looked long gone in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante but got nailed in the final fifty yards to be second at 3/5.  Next up was the Princess Elaine Turf Distaff at Canterbury, which was my BEST BET in Minnesota.  She was gunning for her sixth win in a row and looked to sit the ideal trip.  She was up close, but pinned in on the rail through the far turn.  Got a seam, hit open ground and flew by to edge clear late.  Two wins at Canterbury and five for the day!

MY personal horse Going to Vegas didn't get a chance to run her race and was a solid third despite the trip and coming off a 3 1/2 month layoff.  I was glad that the other horse I considered, who was the 3/5 favorite, also didn't win.  Next up was the Blair's Cove Turf Championship at Canterbury, the male counterpart to the Princess Elaine.  Unlike that added money event, this one looked WIDE open.  I agreed with DRF handicapper that Stitzy rated an edge and one good enough to bet on, but he made this one his BEST BET of the Day.  I wouldn't go that far.  He had paired figures, and was a 7x turf winner AND had not faced state-breds like this at any time showing on his pp's.  Shot right to the front and was clear by open lengths into the far turn.  Held firm into the lane, they came running and he had another gear and held on to win.  The BEST part was he'd been wavering between 4/1 and 9/2 as they went into the gate, but when they hit the far turn his odds showed at an inflated 7/1.  Oh my!  Wishing I'd upped the bet, but still on the minimum play I collected over $40 :)  

The eighth in Minnesota was the Northern Lights Futurity and if It's Bob's Business ran anything close to his debut he was going to be a runaway winner.  He was a prohibitive 1/9 in the early betting.  The on air analysts said he clearly LOOKED to be the most talented, but what IF he didn't get out of the gate well from the "1-hole" and/or someone went with him.  Maybe he'd be vulnerable, and that's exactly what had happened with Thunders Rocknroll earlier in the Debutante.  The gates opened and the field was away, except for 'Bob who was dead last.  Oh, that's great.  But the rider smartly led the colt get his feet under him, and as they approached the turn he began to pick off horses.  Split rivals on mid turn and now my eyes widened because it was obvious he had a full head of steam and had not hit a wall from trying to make up ground.  BLEW BY and ran off by half a dozen in hand.  WOW, that was impressive!  Made 1/5 look like, as Announcer Pete says, "EEEEEEASSSY Money!"  Minutes later Flavian Prat guided Kitty Katana through a narrow opening on the rail in the finale at Del Mar and scored in a Maiden Special turf event for my eighth win of the day.

The ninth at Canterbury was the Minnesota Sprint and I did NOT like the favorite who looked like a route runner to me.  Dr. Oscar was my upset choice and he went right to the front at 3/1.  Was clear at the furlong marker but got caught late, but ran second.  In the late night finale it was the Minnesota Distaff Sprint.  While there were several locals that could win, it appeared that invader Charlie's Penny would prove best.  She'd run big races at the Fair Grounds in 2020-21, then wasn't seen for 18 months.  WOW.  Came back and ran second in a stakes, with a number that matched her career top.  Just missed in the latest, but that was on the turf - her first on the grass.  Now she was third off the bench with two local works.  Tracked the leader to the top of the lane and was let loose.  Ran away by nearly a pole to give me my ninth win of the day and fifth at Canterbury.  

AND....you'll recall at the beginning I noted that Twin Spires had a "Bet Back" promotion.....so that meant that BOTH Thunders Rocknroll and Dr. Oscar were refunded to me (although only got $10 of the $15 on the former) so for the day I won 9-of-18 and had four other races where I also cashed.  50% WINS - who can question that?  :)  AND a net profit approaching $100.  It was a GREAT day at the track!!!

Minnesota Festival of Champions Night Highlights

Social Media

The day before I left Ohio I saw on both Twitter and Facebook that CBS-4 was looking for viewers' response to the announcement that FPL was raising the rates.  The post said to email weekend anchor Karli Barnett, so I did and she wrote me back......

Later in the week our gal-pal Michelle posted she was going to go back into the classroom, and she posted a photo of her with glasses on.  I commented that I liked the "Professor" look :)  And then I remarked to her that I would gladly do my homework if she were my teacher :)

Meet my "second wife," Mariah.  Well, sort of :)  I don't hear from her often via social media but I did this week, and Mariah will ALWAYS be my "second wife" to me.  Here's the story......in my senior Economics class I always had a "Budget Project" where my students would "marry" someone in class and spend the grading period working through a monthly budget.  On those occasions where there was an odd number of students, the one "extra" student would have a fictional spouse.  And so one year, Mariah's senior year she was the "odd man out."  She came back to my desk and asked, "What should I do?"  And I explained how having a fictional spouse worked.  She looked at me, smiled and said, "Well, how about YOU be my husband on the budget days."  Now seriously, look at this cutie....how could I say no to her?  But the best part of the story is that she was working at the local YMCA one day when my REAL wife Kim was there with her class.  Mariah went up to her and introduced herself saying, "I just want you to know I'm your husband's other wife!"  Which of course caught Kim completely off guard until Mariah explained :)